Chapter 387: Heavenly Skill

"Beyond your authority..."

When Zhou Yuan heard Elder Xuan say this, cold sweat immediately broke out on his forehead. He couldn't help but take two steps back, warily watching Elder Xuan, and dryly chuckled, "Senior, are you going to take back what I just obtained?"

He was genuinely anxious. That 'Taiyi Greenwood Mark' was scratching at his heart, making him itch with anticipation. If he had to hand it over, it would truly be like cutting out a piece of his flesh. He couldn't bear to part with it, no matter what.

Elder Xuan looked at Zhou Yuan's drastically changed expression. His aged face remained expressionless as he simply said in a hoarse voice, "According to the rules, you indeed do not have the qualifications."

However, just as Zhou Yuan was about to force his way out, Elder Xuan continued, "But seeing as what you said earlier quite pleased me, making an exception for you is not impossible."

Zhou Yuan, who had almost bolted, froze in place. He looked at this old man who had made him hold his breath, secretly gritting his teeth, but dared not show the slightest expression on his face.

"Then thank you, Senior!"

Elder Xuan said indifferently, "Don't celebrate too soon... You can take the item, but not without conditions."

"What conditions?" Zhou Yuan asked suspiciously.

"The Master's possessions are not to be taken lightly... If you want it, you'll need to exchange it for a 'Heavenly Merit'," Elder Xuan said, gently stroking the ground with the broom in his hand.

"'Heavenly Merit?!'"

Zhou Yuan was first startled, then couldn't help but exclaim.

"Senior, isn't that demand a bit excessive? I'm just a newly promoted purple-sash disciple; how could I have 'Heavenly Merit'?" Zhou Yuan protested.

Within the Cangxuan Sect, numerous tasks are assigned to disciples. These tasks are divided into three ranks: Heaven, Earth, and Human. Heaven-rank tasks are the highest, and completing one grants a 'Heavenly Merit'.

The next are Human-rank tasks, which, if completed, grant an 'Earth Merit'.

This 'Heavenly Merit' held immense appeal for the disciples of Cangxuan Sect, as a single 'Heavenly Merit' could be exchanged for numerous treasures.

Even Heaven Source Arts, Heaven Source Weapons, and more powerful cultivation methods!

It can be said without exaggeration that for the disciples of Cangxuan Sect, 'Heavenly Merit' was their ultimate goal.

However, Heaven-rank tasks were not only rare, but once they appeared, they were almost always snatched up by the Ten Holy Sons. It was no easy feat for an ordinary disciple to acquire a Heaven-rank task.

Therefore, obtaining 'Heavenly Merit' was exceedingly difficult.

Whenever a Heaven-rank task emerged, the purple-sash disciples of Cangxuan Sect would rush towards it like a pack of hungry wolves spotting an unguarded sheep; the fierce competition was truly astonishing.

Zhou Yuan, however, had only just been promoted to a purple-sash disciple, and hadn't even taken on a regular task yet, let alone a Heaven-rank one...

That's why he was so agitated when he heard Elder Xuan demand a 'Heavenly Merit'.

However, Elder Xuan completely ignored Zhou Yuan's protest, simply saying, "Although I don't know what you obtained in there, being able to exchange it for one 'Heavenly Merit' is, by any measure, a huge bargain for you."

Zhou Yuan's expression flickered uncertainly. He said angrily, "But I really don't have any 'Heavenly Merit'!"

"Then you can owe it," Elder Xuan said slowly.

"'Owe?!'" Zhou Yuan was dumbfounded. Was such a thing even possible?

"I'll give you three months. In three months, bring me a 'Heavenly Merit' here... And during this time, you may keep the item you took from here," Elder Xuan said.

Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment. He looked at Elder Xuan suspiciously. Could this old man actually be so kind?

His eyes darted around. An idea began to form in his mind. In three months, he might even be able to cultivate the 'Taiyi Greenwood Mark' to completion. Then he wouldn't need to bother with this old man.

"Little fellow, though I may seem to have one foot in the grave, I assure you, even Sect Master Qingyang wouldn't dismiss my words in Cangxuan Sect."

"If you try any tricks then, even if you succeed in cultivating it, I can find a way to cripple you," Elder Xuan continued slowly, as if knowing Zhou Yuan's thoughts.

Cold sweat immediately broke out all over Zhou Yuan's body. He looked at the old man before him with a hint of fear in his eyes. This old man was a ruthless character indeed.

"How about it?" Elder Xuan seemed to smile and said.

"If you're not satisfied, you can put the item back. I'll allow you to choose again."

Zhou Yuan naturally refused. The 'Taiyi Greenwood Mark' was hidden so secretly by the Cangxuan Grand Ancestor; it certainly wasn't an ordinary art. Though he didn't know its rank, Zhou Yuan had a premonition that it would be anything but weak.

His gaze flickered. After a long moment, he finally gritted his teeth fiercely.

"Alright, one 'Heavenly Merit', right? I'll get it for you in three months!" Though he knew the difficulty was immense, Zhou Yuan no longer cared about that for the sake of the 'Taiyi Greenwood Mark'.

Upon hearing this, a hint of a smile seemed to appear on Elder Xuan's deeply wrinkled face. He nodded and said, "That's quite some mettle. The Master's possessions cannot fall into the hands of a mediocre person and needlessly tarnish the Master's name."

Zhou Yuan gave a wry smile. Indeed, it's best not to rejoice too soon. Just moments ago, he was ecstatic about obtaining such a miraculous art as the 'Taiyi Greenwood Mark', yet in a blink of an eye, it had brought him trouble.

"Then, may this junior depart?" Zhou Yuan said, feeling aggrieved.

He had come to acquire a treasure, only to end up with such a huge problem.

Elder Xuan paid no attention to Zhou Yuan's angry expression. He merely waved his hand, and no longer bothered with him, resuming his shaky sweeping of the ground.

Seeing this, Zhou Yuan turned and left.

However, his departing face was etched with worry, clearly troubled by how he could obtain a 'Heavenly Merit' within three months, after all, Heaven-rank tasks were not easy to snatch up.

"Never mind, I'll worry about it later. First, I'll cultivate this 'Taiyi Greenwood Mark' to completion!"

He gritted his teeth, quickened his pace, and swiftly disappeared at the foot of the mountain.

As Zhou Yuan's figure disappeared, Elder Xuan, standing before the Ancient Scripture Tower, finally stopped sweeping. He raised his head, his cloudy eyes fixed on the direction Zhou Yuan had left, a deep light seeming to flicker within them.

"This little fellow carries a familiar aura..."

"Master, is it because of you? Otherwise, how could he have entered the place where you once cultivated in seclusion?"

"It's a pity he's a bit too weak..."

"But his talent is quite good, so I had to push him a little. The path of cultivation requires relentless advancement and fearlessness in the face of all hardships..."

"I hope he doesn't disappoint me."

(One update today.)